USPS mail to delay long distance items starting Oct. 1

The United States Post Office (USPS) announced some changes are ahead starting Oct. 1. However, most First-Class Mail and periodicals will not be affected.

Starting Friday, the USPS will implement new service standards for First-Class Mail and periodicals that include increasing delivery reliability, consistency and efficiency for customers.

According to USPS, 60% of First-Class Mail and 93% of periodicals will be unaffected by these changes and remain at the same rate as it currently stands to reach customers in a local area. Overall, 70% of First-Class Mail volume would receive a standard of 1-3 business days.

However, the Postal Service will increase time-in-transit standards by one or two days for certain mail that is traveling longer distances.

"By doing so, the Postal Service can entrust its ground network to deliver more First-Class Mail, which will lead to greater consistency, reliability, and efficiency that benefits its customers," the USPS said.

The changes are part of a plan to improve service reliability and predictability for customers to enhance the efficiency of the network.

The Postal Service’s goal is to consistently meet a 95% mark of service performance.

The following is a list of the new service standards:

For more information on the upcoming changes and the service’s initiatives, click here.